Wichita eagle., 1887-07-06

worship. since we VINO love nrsf only &C q
mature age concentrate our affections, UNI
frittered away by earlier, slighter loves-I
have tried then, by every tenderness, to con-
vince thee that thou alone OF men art in my
heart: but l have found thee insensible to
these assurances. As my blint: and simple
affection cannot inspire In thee that faith
which is essential to welded happiness, and as
nv beau which therefore hold accused
is the terrible barrier to orr perfect under
standing. I have resolved, not in anger
nor revenge, but in sacrifice to your love, to
convert that i'll starred, fatal beauty into a
living horror. that thou mayest no longer see
in il temptation to disloyalty toward thee.
Naurht else can cure my anxiety and dis
tress. and I do not falter. II thou lowest me
thus shalt thy trust revive; thou wilt pardon
nv unsightliness, and we snail once more be
haupy. II thy love shall revolt and perish
for the horror I become, losing that torment
ing love. thou wilt find peace again. I VIII
return thee at least the tranquility have
DESTROYED, either by dispelling the illusion or
By protecting thy passion beneath the wings
of faith. Thine, MARINA"
The heart of Lecnel sank like lead withir
him. with the weight of a great misgiving.
had his madness driven herr He saw now, as
if from beneath lifted veil, the folly and
the cruelty of his exactions and suspicious,
and he realized the depth Of the divine afec-
tiou he had wronged. Full of contrition, of
eagerness, OF awful dread, he fastened back
to the house, and abbreviating as he could
the ceremonious parley at the door, he sought
Narina's father, and hurriedly told his fears.
The two men moved through the house
quietly. not to attract the attention OF the
eossipinc servants. The mother of Marina
was away to visit sick friend, and the house
was very still In the ante sala, or ante room
of the great parlor, they were overtaken by
a servant.
aDon Pablito." she exclaimed, x CAM here
TO tell YOU that was here busting moment
| aro. and l found the brazier gone have
| been seeking some one to tell, but Dona Clau-
| dia is away. and the Nina Marina is in her
room and does not answer. Quien sabe how
the thief could have come In! The door
| porter must have slept, sir.n
Anaya checked the girls chatter, and sent
| her away. In those days, and until the last
| few years. it was the custom TO keep In all
we'll regulated houses small fire OF charcoal
| burning IN great silver brazier in the ante
saIa for the convenience of lighting cigars
| or cigarettes. This brazier was indeed miss
! ing here. And through the interstiees of the
| doors a subtle odor began to creep, tainting
the air of the tightly closed house-a strange
| and sickening smell, whose suggestion caused
| the flesh to thrill with horror, and the hair tc
stand erect. The two men gazed at each
| other an instant in shocked dismay and hor
| ror. then Don Pablo led the way In haste tc
Marina's chamber, and threw open the door
| A rush of noxious vapor came into Leonels
| face from the room that held his love, and
| his first glimpse of its interior showed him
! Marina, bent over the big brazier on her high!
| stand. with her face laid close upon its glow.
inc Goals. As her father and Leonel entered
| the room. she lifted herself erect, every line
| of her figure expressing mingled agony ano
| the fortitude of resolution, and staggering
blindlv forward, she fell senseless beside her
| bed.
It was a year later that the devout gathered
at the early morning mass in the cathedral
| watched with interest the entrance Of a wed
ding party, in which the groom was Leone
le Ia Montana and the bride lady whose
figure was of exquisite elegance and grace
AIT whose face was beyond criticism, in thai
q was closely covered by black silk mask
which was not removed throughout the cere
monv. From her terrible self immolatior
Marina had brought her beautiful eyes un
scathed in vision or appearance, and hel
sweet. fresh lips were as perfect as OF yore
But all the rest Of her countenance was ont
frightful cicatrice-a thing of seams and scar
and dreadful discoloration, to look on which
drew shudders of horror from her nearest ant
dearest But for Leonel de Ia Montana he
charm was omnipotent-greater now thai
when she was in the full flush Of her soft
brilliant beauty. Amid the gross profigac.
) and infdelity of the Spaniards in Mexico hi
LOYALTY and devotion to his wife neye
wavered, and the harmony Of their perfec
love and trust was never marred, till thel
lives, but not their hearts, were sundered b.
the power of death, when both were far ad
vanced in age. And the street where Marina
so painfully proved her love has ever sine
been called The Street Of the Burned Wo
man. ". H Adds in The Argonaut.